Dear Manoj,
During my 4 year stay in Nagaland, I became close to my Naga friends, and
I came to know that "kukur-pitha" was a lie --- it continues to be a lie
today.
It is a lie similar to what you see in the movie "INDIANA JONES" by George
Lucas where Indians were shown as people who eat live snakes.
From time immemorial, people hurl ethnic slurs to demean others and
glorify the self. India is full of this kind of ethnic slurs. These are the
root of India's disunity and weakness. Very often, movies were used to
spread ethnic insults. I remember a movie (by a Marathi producer) CHACHA
CHOUDHARY that was directed against Gujarati and South Indians. An
exception was Uday Shankar's KALPANA where he protested against stereotyping
people. Mahatma Gandhi was always against any ethnic slur. His article
"Lovely Assam" will shine like a gem forever.
Our goal is to build a strong India for which we need complete extirpation
of ethnic smearing. If the report is true, the interview at India TV by
Sushri Maneka Gandhi adds up to betrayal of India. Her irresponsibility is
paramount because she is a Member of Parliament, a member of BJP and a
prominent national leader.
This is a very serious matter. Because of their hereditary features,
people from Assam are already facing many problems in Delhi where they are
identified with derogatory remarks such as "chepta", etc. For the sake of
future generations of the Assamese, the slur hurled by Sushri Maneka Gandhi
must be nipped at the bud. This is as serious as the "Grouping" that was
stopped by Gopinath Bordoloi in 1946, earning an international reputation of
stubbornness.
As a Life-Member and Patron of "Assam Association of Delhi", I propose
action in the following sequence:
(1) Assam Association of Delhi should take leadership in confronting the
irresponsible, anti-national and divisive lies of Sushri Maneka Gandhi
(2) Before taking any action, Sushri Maneka Gandhi should be notified to
explain, within 15 days, about the truth of the report.
(3) On expiry of 15 days, a PIL case should be filed on charges of
anti-India activities against Sushri Maneka Gandhi and India TV under the
provisions of the Constitution of India.
(4) One thousand effigies of Maneka Gandhi should be burned all over
Assam within a month.
(5) Demands should be made to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to
condemn Maneka Gandhi.
(6) Demand should be made to BJP to expel Maneka Gandhi from BJP,
failing which, rallies should the held all over Assam and Delhi against BJP
leadership.
It is a high time Assam should once again take a strong stand. Please let
me know your opinion.
I have facts about the lack of credibility of Sushri Maneka Gandhi, which
I'll send to you after the 15 day notice mentioned above.
With the best wishes,
Himendra
PS: For some reason not known to me, my membership at assamnet has been
cancelled. Please post my letter whichever way you think the best.
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Manoj Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*To:* [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*Cc:* Dr. Sashanka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ; Ram Sarangapani<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
NorthEastIndia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ;
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [email protected]
*Sent:* Sunday, May 20, 2007 12:35 PM
*Subject:* Re: [Assam] IN ASSAM DOGS AND PUPPIES ARE KILLED FOR THEIR SKIN
AND MEAT
It's 'kukur pitha'. But only eaten in Nagaland. Himendrada, with long
years of service in Nagaland will be able to through some light and put the
record straight.
On 5/20/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
> Ram,
>
> Let us not be coy about this ancient cultural trait of our people and
> let the good doctor know about his query, without doubt a truly altruistic
> and generous gesture to bring a little respite to the sufferings of our
> canine comrades.
>
> Dr. Sashanka, as you know, we are ashamed of our ancient pursuit
> of this delectable culinary gem. That is why my esteemed colleague Ram is
> beating around the bush, not telling you like it is. The truth, doctor, is
> that it is as Assamese a custom as Bihu dancing, til-pitha khwa (
> eating sesame and juggery stuffed rice flour cakes), sunga-saul khowa (
> rice cooked in green bamboo tubes over an open fire), eating
> 'bwnda-kesu-bhaji' ( deep-fried giant earthworms, each 9" to a foot long" --
> an ancient source of high quality protein, about 95% of its body
> mass--compare that to about 15% beef being protein), juit-pwra xaamuk (
> barbequed snails--another high quality protein source), fermented fish curry
> ( small fish buried in wet ground, wrapped in banana leaves and generously
> spiced up with'bih-jolokiya'--literally poison pepper, the world's hottest
> pepper and blackish clay dug up from water buffalo wallows in flooded rice
> paddies, usually shaded by bamboo groves). Those are only some of our unique
> culinary heritage.
>
> Anyway, to make a long story short, this delectable doggie treat is
> eaten all over Assam, in poor houses and rich, modern Assamese families as
> well as forest dwelling savages, who only wear slivers of dried banana
> leaves to cover their shame, and that too only under the most piercing gaze
> of outsiders.
>
> You will do a great service to civilizing our people left behind by the
> times, if you visit Assam, and write an expose'. I hope you will let Menoka
> Aideu ( Lady Menaka) and her animal rights group know all about this sordid
> practice, with a request to bring it to the notice of the civilzed
> world. And most of all , your service will be remembered by dog-loving
> Indians whose legacy goes back to Yudhisthir whose companion never parted
> company even when crossing the river Boitorini, deep down in the
> nether-world.
>
> With the best of wishes, I remain a despondent Assamese:
>
> Chandan Mahanta USA
>
>
>
> ---- Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Hehehe!
> >
> > At one time, atleast , this "dish was was (popularly) called 'kukur
> pitha'
> > and we were told it does happen in certain places. While it is
> possible for
> > Menaka Gandhi to say something like this, I think, this kind of story
> still
> > has legs is because of its strangeness.
> >
> > Another thing to think about is also about the Assam in those days was
> a
> > larger, bigger Assam.
> > To answer your question, 'yes', I would say most older netters at
> least
> > thought it happened is a certain place. PC (and lack of any
> > proof) prevents us from assigning this practice to a particular place.
> >
> > --Ram
> >
> >
> > On 5/20/07, Dr. Sashanka < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > Does anyone have any idea where exactly the following cruelty
> happens in
> > > ASSAM???
> > >
> > > *"IN ASSAM DOGS AND PUPPIES ARE KILLED FOR THEIR SKIN AND MEAT.(A
> TRUE
> > > STATEMENT).THEY ARE KEPT HUNGRY FOR 5 DAYS THEN ON THE SIXTH DAY
> FEED ALOT
> > > OF RICE AND DAL AND AS SOON AS THE INNOCENT ANIMAL FINISHES THE MEAL
>
> > > ,BECAUSE HE'S HUNGRY FOR 5 DAYS,IN A ROW,**
> > > THE BUTCHER TEARS OPEN THE STOMACH OF THE DOG,WHILE THE DOG BEING
> FULLY
> > > ALIVE,THEN ITS KILLED AND EATEN AND ITS SKIN GIVEN FOR LEATHER
> GOODS.IT <http://goods.it/><http://goods.it/>HAPPENS DAILY OVER
> THERE,(AS SAID BY
> > > MS.MANEKA GANDHI,A WELL KNOWN ANIMAL RIGHTS ATIVIST,ON AN
> INTERVIEW,WITH
> > > INDIA T.V.)"*
> > > * *
> > > The link where I found this
> > >
> > > http://www.petadishoom.com/boards/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1706ឹ
> > >
> > > Its horrible if really happens in ASSAM and if not then is this a
> right
> > > message to the world??????????
> > >
> > > Sashanka
> > >
> > > ------------------------------
> > > Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer.
> Try
> > > it
now<http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTEzaDRkZGdlBF9TAzIxMTQ3MTcxOTAEc2VjA01haWwEc2xrA3RhZ2xpbmVz
> >.
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> > >
>
>
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